CHAPTER XV 



ANATOMICAL OUTLINES OF THE CONSTRUCTION 

 OF THE HORSE 



It is always an advantage for the amateur to make him- 

 self acquainted with the elements of the anatomical 

 construction of a horse, in order that he may be in a 

 better position to appreciate some of the simpler facts 

 when speaking of diseases, injuries, etc. The old maxim 

 that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing holds good so 

 far, but it is equally true that the possession of such may 

 be decidedly advantageous rather than otherwise. 



It is customary to divide the various parts of the animal 

 body into different systems, such as : the muscular ; 

 the nervous ; the vascular ; the gestive ; the respiratory, 

 etc. The whole of these systems, along with others not 

 mentioned, are either placed within or upon a framework 

 of bone, which we recognize as a skeleton, the structure 

 of which is of a highly interesting nature, and the more it 

 is studied, the more complex it appears. 



In an elementary work of this description it is impossible 

 to do anything more than mention the most rudimentary 

 facts relating to the matter now under consideration. 



The Skeleton 



The framework is made up of a number of bones of 

 various kinds, articulated together by ligamentous 

 attachments, through which a variable degree of move- 

 ment is allowed. 



All the bones forming the skeleton are primarily laid 



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